While Carlyle and team video coordinator Joe Trotta spent Monday and Tuesday fishing, Burke handed the keys to the Ducks’ front office to Bob Murray. For his part, Murray is more than acquainted with Carlyle.

The two worked together in the Vancouver Canucks organization – Murray as a pro scout from 1999-2005, and Carlyle as coach and GM of their AHL team in Manitoba from 1996-2001, and again in 2004-05.

Murray joined Burke in the Ducks’ front office and was instrumental in hiring Carlyle to his first NHL head coaching job in Aug. 2005.

Carlyle and Murray have a deeper relationship off the ice.

“He’s been to my place probably more times to dinner than he’s been to Burke’s,” Carlyle said of Murray. “I don’t know how many times that is but sometimes I can’t get rid of him.

“We have daughters who are pretty much the same age and they’re both into equestrian riding, all that stuff. … (Murray) has probably been my main contact and the guy that I have conversed with the most since I got the job.”

After two days off, the team got back to practicing Wednesday and Thursday, and will face the Nashville Predators tonight for the first time this season.

Getting back in the win column after two straight losses seems to be the main concern in the Ducks’ locker room, not the front-office shakeup.

“It was a little bit of a shock initially, then I think we all saw this coming down the line with Burke and the situation,” defenseman Chris Pronger said, “so it’s kind of a seamless transition with (Murray) being with the team the last four years.”

Injury update

Checking-line forward Brad Larsen participated in full practice Thursday for the first time in his recovery from sports hernia surgery. He remains on injured reserve for the time.

“There’s definitely no timetable set for it; with these things it’s more of a feel thing,” Larsen said. “It’s definitely better than it was a week ago and I’ve skated eight of the last nine days.”

Brad May, meanwhile, has been cleared to play tonight. The veteran forward hasn’t played since injuring his knee Oct. 29 against the Detroit Red Wings.